/ world today news/ “How did I know who are the best in this election? These are the ones who suffered the most.” This was stated by the sculptor Prof. Velislav Minekov today during a meeting of the civilian candidate for mayor of Sofia, Maya Manolova, with intellectuals and artists.
Among the participants and those present in the discussion with moderator Ivan Garelov were also Prof. Valentin Starchev, Academician Krum Damyanov, Prof. Andrey Pantev, journalists Lili Marinkova and Viza Nedyalkova, the chairman of the Union of Bulgarian Writers Boyan Angelov, the chairman of the Union of Collectors in Bulgaria, Prof. Valery Stefanov, the director Boris Pankin, the composer – Prof. Georgi Kostov, the jazz performer Vasil Petrov, the director and cinematographer of the film, winner of many international awards “Aga” – Milko Lazarov and Kaloyan Bozhilov.
Prof. Minekov called the tearing of Maya Manolova’s portrait “shamanism”. A few days ago, vandals tore apart the tent in front of the NDK, which houses the candidate’s headquarters, and one of the cuts was precisely through her face. Previously, the tent and her face had been repeatedly scratched with a marker and pen.
“Cutting a portrait does not mean destroying the personality. Next time, I hope they prepare a doll and poke it with needles,” he added.
“They turned the state into a dictatorship. This dictatorship follows with every step, it appeared even in the Prosecutor’s Office, in the media, which was stolen from us, which remained silent and which is obliged to praise only the ruling caste. It is natural to be leaders in corruption in Europe. It is natural to be a leader in the poverty of the media – in 111th place in the world,” Minekov was categorical.
“In fact, we created oligarchs on an unnatural principle, bank fraudsters, credit millionaires, and none of them can be defined as a real businessman, because he does not guarantee prosperity, but only guarantees robbery,” added Minekov.
“The trouble is that this robbery also reached the Metropolitan Municipality. In it, first of all, there is corruption and robbery. As a result of this robbery, you can see what she looked like,” he further stated.
According to him, millions are spent on nonsense, creating expensive stakes according to “Count Ignatiev”.
He described the renovation of the street as “cacophony”, and “Vitosha” Blvd – as “an obscure provincial project from the distant past”.
“Cultural heritage was absolutely destroyed. You know how many houses that are a cultural monument were abandoned expecting to be torn down so that something else could be built in their place, something to make money from,” the professor further stated, adding that “the first thing that the Metropolitan Municipality must take care of the abandoned monuments of culture”.
“We must act to save our cultural heritage,” he also pointed out.
“European programs for the aestheticization of the urban environment are completely absent in the municipality, there are no programs for public art. The only attempts to beautify the city are monuments, with which we rushed, unfortunately in my opinion, I don’t know according to others, the vast majority of them are terrifying”, he also stated.
According to Minekov, it is normal for the municipality to have a committee of specialists and professionals to determine what is needed as a monument, whether it is historically reliable, to hold a competition between authors and choose the best presentation.
Video of Prof. Minekov’s speech here:
“I hope for a new policy of mastering the cultural space of Sofia. A new policy of development of the park environment, in the development of the urban environment, in the development of squares and large emblematic public buildings”, said sculptor Prof. Valentin Starchev in turn.
Video of Prof. Starchev’s speech here:
“We have matchmakers of all kinds and from every position. I very much hope that Mrs. Manolova restores the authorities who can be heard and above all have power. You must declare war on the socio-political stupidity that has been in place for the past 15 years,” said Lili Marinkova.
Video of Lili Marinkova’s speech here:
“We are talking about a mayor as a symbol and as pragmatism. Like abilities and personality charm. Maya is the only such candidate for mayor of Sofia,” said Prof. Andrey Pantev.
Video of Prof. Pantev’s speech here:
“A metropolitan city without symbolism cannot be authoritative. There are three examples of the symbolic poverty of the capital. In the center of Sofia, opposite the Palace, stood a mausoleum, a mummy. The mummy represented a worldview. For 20 years, the Metropolitan Municipality did not find a way to build a symbolic space in front of the Palace. She turned it into a parking lot. Turned it into a beat. This is what I call a symbol of poverty. The main street in Sofia – Vitosha Blvd. can also be seen as a symbol of poverty, because it looks more like a poorly maintained bathroom with peeling tiles than a real boulevard. And the third symbol for poverty is the image of the subway. Sofia looks like an abandoned underpass. So, instead of having symbols that exercise authority, radiate memory, radiate significance, we have a parking lot, a bathroom and an underpass,” said Prof. Valeri Stefanov.
Video of Prof. Stefanov’s speech here:
“We, the members of the Union of Bulgarian Writers, exist in spite of the Metropolitan Municipality. I have been the chairman of the union for five years and I have not felt in any way that it helps the Bulgarian writer. And if he does, he does it selectively. However, Bulgarian literature is alive and will continue to exist despite the Capital Municipality. But I very much hope that when you become mayor, this will change,” said the chairman of the Union of Bulgarian Writers, Prof. Boyan Angelov.
Video of Prof. Angelov’s speech here:
“I take hold of Prof. Stefanov’s words about the subways – the idea that the person should be taken underground, not the cars – this is an absolutely abnormal situation where people are forced to have no other way to get through than to crawl below – this is precisely the poverty we are talking about here,” stated Viza Nedyalkova.
Video of Viza Nedyalkova’s speech here:
“Education is the other pillar of spirituality. It can change people’s lives for the better, and I see that the measures envisaged in this part of Mrs. Maya Manolova’s program are detailed and interestingly developed – for example, the introduction of different types of arts in municipal schools is a great opportunity for children to understand what a pleasure it is to experience art in all its forms,” said director Boris Pankin.
Video of Boris Pankin’s speech here:
“Let Ms. Manolova have a chance, and let us be lucky that she will be our mayor,” wished success to composer Prof. Georgi Kostov.
Video of Prof. Kostov’s speech here:
“You have hearts and ideals, and this is what Sofia needs – an ideal of how to make Sofia clean, respectable, green, spiritual and free. Creators are free people, the leaders who must show the way to change.
In connection with my announcement that the citizens will enter the administration, that we will govern with them and for them, that there will be public councils in different directions, in the regions, in the various capital companies, I think that the most valuable would be a creative council, which inspires and supports, but at the same time restrains the mayor when his ideas conflict with aesthetics.” Manolova stated. And he added – “I hope you will be by my side when and if I become mayor.” Indeed, I will rely on you, I will try not to disappoint you”, Maya Manolova thanked everyone.
Video of Maya Manolova’s speech here:
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